Folded blank box



Aug. 27, 1929.

c. D HUGHES FOLDED BLANK BOX Filed Sept. 13, 1927 .2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Aug. 27, 1929.

C. D. HUGHES FOLDED BLANK BOX Filed Sept. 15, 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Gttorncg Patented A... 27, 1929.

UNITED STATES CLOUD D. HUGHES, OF KENNETT SQUARE, PENNSYLVANIA.

FOLDED BLANK BOX.

Application filed September 18, 192.7. Serial No. 219,322.

This invention relates particularly to multi-compartment shipping containers or what mi ht Ibe termed a multlple box un1t composer? of stron more or less flexible sheet material producer; in flat blank form capa ble of being folded up to produce'the sh1p ping container forming the several boxes or compartments; and the ob]ects and nature of the invention will be readily understood by those skilled in the art in the l1ght of the following description of the accompanyin drawings illustrating what I now believe to e the preferred mechanical expression or embodiment of my invention from among other forms and constructions within the spirit and scope thereof.

A particular object of my invention 15 to provide an improved multiple box unit capable of being formed from a single sheet material blank and particularly intended for packing and shipping various products and of such strength and durability as to be capable of use, in the field for. instance, by ickers of berries or other products or mus rooms and capable of being closed for shipment and also capable of being readily separated into separate individually complete boxes or containers.

With this and other objects in view my invention consists in certain novel features of construction and in formations and arrangements as more fully and particularly described and specified hereinafter.

Referring to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof;

ig. 1 shows in box unit embodyingmy invention, and this embodiment consistlng of two approximatel similar compartments or boxes shown wit 1 top covers or closing flaps in closed position.

Fig. 2 is a vertical longitudinal section taken on line 2-2, Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 shows one of the boxes or individually complete compartments separated from the other.

Fig. 4 diagrammatically illustrates in plan view a form of flat sheet material blank capable of ein bent and folded to form the complete mu tiple box unit of Fig. 1.

-The comfpletemultiple box unit of Fig. 1 consists 0 two approximately similar or duplicate boxes or compartments arranged end to end and open at the top and each p ripyided with its-own top closure or flap. ese two'boxes are joined together by a perspective the multiple closure.

The inner end wall of each box is approximately of duplicate thickness and is tied to the opposite side walls and to the opposite end wall and the opposite side walls are of double thickness.

This structure is attained and these results are accomplished, by providing a single fiat blank capable of being folded and bent to constitute the two box unit, such a two box unit as is capable'ofbeing divided. or severed into two individually complete boxes each of acapacity equal to approximatel one-half the capacity of the complete multiple box unit. I For instance, in Fig. 4 I show a diagram of this flat blank which provides a central longitudinally elongated body length substantially oblong in form when the edges thereof are defined by the longitudinal lines a, b. This body length is in one piece or.

continuous from end to end to form the bottoms 1, 1, of the two boxes, the outer vertical end walls 2, 2 of the two boxes and the .top covers or closure flaps 3, 3, of the two boxes.

At its central portion this blank is formed with the similar opposite flaps 4, 4*, and 4, 4, capable of being bent to vertical position on the fold lines a,-b, to form upright side walls for the two boxes rising from the bottoms 1, 1, of the two boxes. These pairs of side walls 4, 4*, are continuous from box to box except for the notches 5 depending through the top edges of said pairs of walls 4, 4 or a short distance, and defining the the blank, are arranged two similar pairs'of from 2, of-the body of elongated flaps that 'project'laterally opposlte ends of the panels the blank. For instance, two elongated wall forming flaps 4,;

side walls 4 of one box from the side walls 4 of the other box.

tongues 1 extending in opposite directions,

from the opposite ends of the panel 2, to provide two similar panels 6 and two similar end panels 7.

After the two sets of similar side walls 4:, 4, are bent to vertical position, the panel 2 is bent to upright position on the transverse fold line e, so as to rise vertically from the bottom forming panel 1, 1. The panels 6 are then folded inwardly on the fold lines a, b, so that the panels 6 close inwardly against the outer vertical surfaces of the upright walls 4, and while this operation is being performed the notches 9 are entered into the notches 5, and the panels 7 are bent inwardly on the fold lines 0, so that the two opposite panels 7 will lap one over the other and extend across the space over the bottom panel 1 and between the two. pairs of upright walls 4, 4 to form the inner end wall of the compartment or individual box having the bottom 1 and the outer end wall .2. These two flap ends or panels 7 are notchedor slit at 8 in opposite directions so that they can interlock as more clearly indicated by Fig. 3 to form the inner end wall of the box and to tie together the panels 6 formig the outer layers of the side walls of the box. I

In this connection it will be noted that the box side walls are double in that the inner layers thereof are formed by the wall portions 4: and the outer layers thereof are formed by the panels 6 that constitute end continuations of the panel 2 that forms the outer end wall of this box.

The other box of vthe multiple unit, the bottom of which is formed by the panel 1 has its outer end wall formed by bending up the panel 2 on the fold line 6 to vertical position, and then bending the panels 6 on the fold lines a, 6, against the outer sides of the upright side wall portions 4, and then bending the end flaps or end panels 7 a on the line 0 and inserting the notches 9 in the notches 5 and interlocking the two end panels 7 by means of the slits 8 to,form the inner end wall of the other compartment, namely, the compartment having its bottom formed by panel 1, as heretofore described in connection with the formation of the other box of the multiple unit.

When these boxes of the multiple unit are formed, as so far described, we have two boxes built up on an unbroken portion, 1, 1, of the blank that forms the bottoms of both boxes with the two boxes arranged end to end. These two boxes are open at the top and can be most conveniently employed by pickers in the field in filling the boxes with the product to be shipped.

When the boxes have received the desired quantity of the material to be shipped, the cover flaps, 3, 3*, forming upward and outward continuations of the outer end walls 2, 2, of the two boxes, can then be folded upwardly and downwardly over their respective boxes'to cover the same.

These cover flaps 3, 3 are preferably formed with side flaps 30, 30 having projecting portions forming ton es 31, 31 to close down at the sides of t eir respective boxes so that the tongues can enter slots 10, 10 in the outer wall formin'g panels 6, 6, to maintain the covers in closed positions.

It will be noted, that the multiple box unit is braced or trussed and stiffened against bending or buckling vertically, particularly on a transverse line located between the two individual boxes, by the channel bar or flanged formation of the blank between and joining the two boxes. This formation is attained by providing the body portion of the sheet blank continuous from box bottom panel 1, to box bottom panel 1*, with the pairs of vertical flanges or walls 4, 15*,rising from opposite edges of both said panels and continuous from panel or wall portion 4, of one box to panel or wall portion P, of the other box, except for the short notches 5. The notches 5, permit anchoring the respective boxes to the two pairs of vertical walls, through the medium of the two pairs of long lateral tongues or flaps 6*, 7 and 6, 7, integral with the body panels 2, 2, that form the outer end walls of the two boxes.

The blanks can be sent to the field or to the packers in flat form, and can be folded to operative box form by the pickers and/ or packers, and can be carried and filled as the products are picked or gathered. This is possible because of the trussed and braced formation of the multiple unit box when folded to form and because of the anchored and braced formation of each box.

The side flanges 30, or 30, of the cover flaps 3, 3, in the preferred form as shown extend down at the outer surfaces of the outer side wall layers 6, 6, of the boxes with the locking ton'gues 31, 31 entering the slots 10, from the outside, so that the cover is supported on and against the double walls with whatever weight or forces may be applied thereto and thereon. However, as an alternative and where desired said cover flanges 30, 30, can be slipped down between the inner layers 4, or at, and theouter layers 6, or 6", of the box side walls with tongues 31, 31, projecting outwardly through slots 10, to the exterior ofthe boxes.

The two boxes can be of uniform capacity, each to carry, say a pound and a half of mushrooms, thus the multiple box unit will' contain, say three pounds of mushrooms. Where the retailer has an order for a pound and a half of mushrooms or other product,

he can subdivide the multiple box unit by transversely severing the same along the dotted line 7, thus producing two separate individually complete and covered boxes containing the desired quantity of product. By severing the body of the blank transversely across its center along line f, the two box bottoms 1, 1-, and the two box end walls 4, 4, are separated, between and without disturbing the inner end wall 7, of one box or the inner end wall 7, of the other bOX.

Various changes, departures and modifications can be resorted to without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention and hence I do not wish to limit my invention to the substantially exact embodiment disclosed.

. What I claim is 1. A flat sheet material blank for a multiple box unit, having a central longitudinal body length foldable to form the bottoms, outer end walls and top closure flaps of the several boxes of the unit, a pair of opposite flaps extending laterally from said body length to bend up and form side wall portions of the several boxes and pairs of .opposite elongated tongues extending laterally from said body length to face said side wall portions and form inner end walls of the several boxes.

2. A flat sheet material blank formed to fold to form a multiple box unit, said blank having a central body length foldable to form a continuous bottom for two boxes and the outer end walls thereof, said length at its central portion having two opposite flaps to fold up from said continuous bottom and form connected side wall portions of said two boxes, said length also having opposite pairs of tongues extending laterally from its outer end wall forming portions, respectively, and constructed and formed to face said side wall portions of the boxes and interlock therewith and form the inner end walls of the boxes. I

3. A fiat sheet material blank formed to bend and fold to provide a multiple box unit, said blank providing a body length providing a bottom for two boxes of said unit and the outer end walls of said boxes and top closure flaps for said boxes, said body length havin notched side flaps to bend up from said ottom, and also having ton es extending from opposite edges of sai outer end wall portions to extend therefrom along the outer faces of said bent up side flaps and inwardly through said notches therein and transversely across said bottom to form the separate inner end walls of said two boxes, the tongue ends, of each inner end wall formed to be secured together.

4. A flat sheet blank constructed to fold and interlock to form a multiple box unit, said blank having an elongated body portion providing a central panel to form the bottoms of two boxes, and panels to form the outer end walls of the two boxes, said central panel having two opposite edge flaps, each centrally notched to bend up and form side wall portions ofthe two boxes, each box end wall panel having two opposite edge tongues forming side wall panels and inner end wall panels, said tongues notched to traverse and interlock with the notched portions of said side wall flaps, the free ends of said tongues formed to overlap and secure together between the side wall flaps and over said bottom forming central panel, said central panel and said side wall flaps formed and arranged to be transversely severed to separate the unitinto two individually complete boxes.

5. A two box unit folded up from a single fiat sheet blank and formed thereby, said. unit embodying two individually complete open-top boxes, the bottoms of said two boxes formed by a continuous panel of said. box, the opposite vertical side walls of said two .boxes embodying two continuous flaps bent up from said panel, whereby said panel and said flaps can be transversely severed to separate the unit into two boxes.

6. A two box unit folded up from a single flat sheet blank, said unit embodying two individually complete open-top boxes, the bottoms of said two boxes formed by a con tinuous panel of said blank, the opposite vertical side walls of said two boxes embodying two' continuous panels bent up from said bottom forming panel, and the vertical. inner end walls of said boxes each embody ing interlocking flaps bent u from said blank and extending across saidliottom panel between said opposite side walls, whereby said bottom panel and op )osite side walls on n be transversely severed CLOUD 1 HUGHES.-

tween said inner end walls to separate the unit into two boxes. 

